New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries is currently carrying out a consultation exercise on a National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF). GE Free New Zealand is concerned that the NES-PF would loosen restriction on genetically engineered trees.
Tag: Plantations
Genetically engineered eucalyptus trees approved in Brazil. How long before we see GE tree monocultures in REDD?
On 9 April 2015, the Brazilian Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio) approved the commercial use of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees. This is the first approval of GE trees in Latin America. The application came from FuturaGene, a subsidiary of pulp and paper company, Suzano.
Plantations are not forests!
21 March was International Day of Forests. The theme this year, chosen by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation was “Forests | Climate | Change”. FAO explains that this theme was chosen “purposely to highlight the ways in which forests and climate change are linked, and to rally global support for greater action and change”.
Protest in Brazil prevents approval of genetically engineered eucalytpus trees
Last week, 300 peasants from Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) occupied a meeting of the National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) and prevented a vote on the release of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees.
Permitting Crime: Palm oil expansion and illegal logging in Indonesia’s REDD pilot province
In May 2010, the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta posted a list of frequently asked questions on its website about the US$1 billion REDD deal with Indonesia. The last question is about illegal logging: “Will this program stop illegal logging in Indonesia?”